Nonskid cross-chain hook



March 1 1927.

- 1,619,188 LE ROY BROWNE KNONSKID GROSS CHAIN HOOK Filed Sept. 6, 1923ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

earenr FECE.

LE ROY BROWNE, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

NONSKID CROSS-CHAIN:HO'II'I'L.

i Application filed September My inventionrelates to nonskid chains andparticularly to the hooks used in connecting the cross chains to theside chains.

It is well known that\the cross chains are subjected to severe wear andthat'the side chains will outwear many sets of cross chains. It istherefore usual and economical to replace the cross chains when theybecome worn and broken; but this operation, with the present type ofconnecting hook,is difficult and tedious, requiring some means forbending open the old hooks to remove them and means for clenching thenew books.

With this in View, one of the objects of my invention is to provideadevice of this character which can be readily attached and detached fromboth the side andcross chain without the use of tools, and which cannotbe accidentally detached from either during normal use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich may be easily and cheaply constructed and which will eliminate thepresent necessity of supplying the consumer with replacement crosschains equipped with hooks.

These and other objects and advantages will appear as the description isread in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is afragmentary plan view of a nonskid chain illustrating my connectionhook;

Fig.2 is a front elevation view of my hook;

Fig. 8 is a back elevation view of my hook;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view showing the bill of the hook sprungoutwardly as the connection to the side chain is being made; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the manner in which the hook is attachedto the cross chain.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My invention broadly contemplates a resilient connecting means that maybe merely snapped or sprung into place, as distinguished from the hooksnow in use which must be bent and rebent in making a connection; and itfurther contemplates the provision of certain means whereby thepossibility of accidental disconnection is minimized.

In its preferred form, indicated generally serpentine to form the loop,7 The ends,

6, 1923. Serial No. 661,202.

by the numeral, 3, my hook comprises a loop, 5, adapted to engage across chain link, 2; a resilient hook portion forming a loop, 7, adaptedto receive aside chain link, 1; and a projection, 4, intermediate theloops, forming a closure for loop, 7.

In fabricating my deviceI prefer to use round stock of such diameterthat when made up substantially as shown, it may be readily sprung tomake the necessary con nections. I prefer to use steel as a material,bending it first to the desired configuration, and then imparting thenecessary resiliency by tempering. Other materials, however, having thenecessary strength and possessing, or capable of acquiring, the properelasticity, may be used.

In making my hook, the projection, 4, may first be formed at about theone-third point in the length of stock selected. This may be easily doneby bending the stock 360 degrees about a small diameter cylinder to forma serpentine as shown at, 4. The free ends, 6, may then be broughttogether and the loop, 5, formed in a plane substantially parallel tothe axis of the serpentine. The stock, from the free ends, 6, back tothe serpentine, isthen pressed together and bent upwardly and overagainst the top of the 6, which project somewhat beyond the ser-.pentine, are separated, as at 8, by bending them outwardly to facilitatethe entrance of the link, 2 (see Fig. 6) and upwardly to facilitate theentrance of the link, 1 (see Fig. 5).

In practice, the hook is first applied to the cross chain by slippingthe link, 2, between the ends, 6, as shown in Fig. 6; and the crosschain is then connected to the side chain by springing the link, 1,between the top of the projection, 4, and the ends, 6, as shown in Fig.5. It will be obvious that the link, 2, having entered loop, 5, thesides, 9 and 10,

of the hook will spring back to their original 6 position as shown inFig. 1; and the link, 1, having entered loop, 7 the sides, 9 and 10,will spring downwardly against the serpentine, as shown in Figs. 2 and3, and prevent the accidental detachment of the hook.

While I have illustrated and described its preferred embodiment, it isclear that my invention is not limited to the precise details shown. Theprojection, 4, for example, may be differently shaped and other changesmay ing the jaws of said hooks; saididouble hooks adapted to be sprungapart to allowa cross chain link to pass therehetween, and sprung awayfrom said projection to permit a side chain link to enter the hook.

2. A cross chain hook oi highly resilient material having aloop adaptedto receive a link of a cross chain, and portions npstanding from theplane of sald loop cooperating together to form a second normally closedloop adapted to receive a link of a side chain; said upstanding portionsadapted to be sprung apart Within the elastic limit thereof to admitailink of said side chain into the second mentioned loop.

3. A cross chain hook provided with a loop adapted to engage a crosschain link am a loop adapted to engage a side chain link one of said1003s includin resilient 2 p portions adapted to .be sprung within theirelastic limit to pt' 'odueepassagesfor the admission of said links toeither loop.

LEROY BROWNE.

